Otacanthus plant named &#39;calanda&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new distinct cultivar of  Otacanthus  plant named ‘Calanda’, characterized by its compact plant habit; dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to upright stems; deep violet colored corolla (RHS N88A) and a white throat spot; and less need for chemical growth retardation, due to plant having shorter internodes, shorter branches and shorter plant height.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Otacanthus azureus Ronse.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Calanda’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOtacanthus plant of the Schrophulariaceae family, botanically known asOtacanthus azureus Ronse., commonly known by the name BrazilianSnapdragon, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Calanda’.

The new Otacanthus is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor, Carsten Leth, in Stige, Denmark. The new Otacanthusoriginated from a selfing made in 2002 by the Inventor of an unnamed,unpatented seedling plant of an Otacanthus azureus Ronse. cultivardesignated ‘2015’, which was a selection from a seedling batch producedfrom wild type plants. The Inventor selected the new Otacanthus cultivaras a single flowering plant from the progeny of the above selfing inApril of 2003 on the basis of its flower color combination, freelybranching habit, and upright, compact plant habit. Plants of the newOtacanthus cultivar ‘Calanda’ have upright, compact plant habit, arefreely branching, and produce flowers with unique blue colored petals.

A sexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed in Octoberof 2003 by terminal cuttings taken and propagated and trial productionbatches in Stige, Denmark, has demonstrated that the combination ofunique features as disclosed herein for this new Otacanthus cultivar arefirmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Calanda’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Calanda’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact plant habit;    -   2. Dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to upright stems;    -   3. Deep violet colored corolla (RHS N88A) and a white throat        spot; and    -   4. Less need for chemical growth retardation, due to plant        having shorter internodes, shorter branches and shorter plant        height.

Plants of the cultivar ‘Calanda’ can be compared to plants of theOtacanthus azureus Ronse. cultivar designated ‘Clone B’ (unpatented).‘Clone B’ was selected from the same seedling production batch of wildtype plants that the Otacanthus azureus Ronse. seedling plant designated‘2015’ was selected. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by theInventor in Stige, Denmark, plants of the new cultivar ‘Calanda’ and thecomparison cultivar ‘Clone B’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘Calanda’ are shorter in height (about 25 cm) than        plants of ‘Clone B’ (about 35 cm);    -   2. Plants of ‘Calanda’ have shorter and sturdier lateral        branches (about 15 cm in length) than plants of ‘Clone B’ (about        18 cm in length);    -   3. Plants of ‘Calanda’ have shorter and sturdier internodes        (about 2-3 cm in length, after treated with growth retardant)        than plants of ‘Clone B’ (about 4-5 cm in length); and    -   4. Plants of ‘Calanda’ have a larger inflorescence height (about        8 to 9 cm) than plants of ‘Clone B’ (about 6 to 7 cm).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddetails of flower form, color and structures of the new Otacanthuscultivar ‘Calanda’, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in color reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which more accurately describe theactual colors of the ‘Calanda’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective comparing a typical, pottedflowering plant of the new cultivar ‘Calanda’ (one the left) to atypical, potted flowering plant of the cultivar designated ‘2015’(labelled as “parent” on the right), both grown in 11 cm pots.

FIG. 2 shows a top view perspective comparing a typical, pottedflowering plant of the new cultivar ‘Calanda’ (one the top) to atypical, potted flowering plant of the cultivar designated ‘2015’(labelled as “parent” on the bottom), both grown in 11 cm pots.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view comparing the typical leaves and flowers ofa typical, potted flowering plant of the new cultivar ‘Calanda’ (one thetop) to the typical flowers and leaves of a typical, potted floweringplant of the cultivar designated ‘2015’ (labelled as “parent” on thebottom), both grown in 11 cm pots.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view comparing a flower produced by a typical,potted flowering plant of the cultivar designated ‘2015’ (labelled as“parent” on the left) to a flower produced by a typical, pottedflowering plant of the new cultivar ‘Calanda’ (on the right).

FIG. 5 shows a close-up view of different sizes of leaves (on the top)and different leaves and a bud (on the bottom) produced by a typicalflowering plant of the new cultivar ‘Calanda’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Calanda’ have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of the newcultivar ‘Calanda’ as grown in a glass greenhouse in Stige, Denmark,under conditions which closely approximate those generally used incommercial practice. Plants of ‘Calanda’ were grown in a greenhouse withthe day temperature range of 18° C. to 22° C. and the night temperaturerange of 16° C. to 18° C. Plants of ‘Calanda’ were grown in ambientlight of +300 W·m-² installed and no photoperiodic treatments were used.Plants of ‘Calanda’ were treated with the following two growthretardants: 1) a spray of 3 times 0.1% Daminozide during the cuttingstage, and 2) 3 times 0.05% Chlormequat after potting.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (RHS), 4^(th) edition, except where general terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used. Plants used for this description weregrown for about 20 weeks after cutting and produced in 11 cm pots. Otherpot sizes can be used and the plants are typically intended for outdooruse as a potted or bedding plant in temperate climates while it is aperennial plant in tropical areas, such as its native land of Brazil.

-   Botanical classification: Otacanthus azureus Ronse.-   Parentage: Selfing of Otacanthus azureus Ronse. seedling plant    designated ‘2015’, which was a selection from a seedling batch    produced from wild type plants.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings taken from            non-flowering plants.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at 18° C. to            21° C. in tunnels in a greenhouse.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, well branched.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Perennial, but produced as an annual plant, with            upright, globular to cylindrical plant habit. ‘Calanda’            flowers in terminal spikes. Freely branching, branches            forming at every node; dense and bushy.        -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 16 weeks are required to            produce finished flowering plants in 11 cm pots.        -   Vigor.—Moderately vigorous growth rate.        -   Plant size.—Height (soil level to top of plant plane): About            25 cm, Range of 20-35 cm. Width: About 20 cm, Range about            18-25 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Freely branching with about 6 lateral            flowering branches forming at every node; dense and bushy.            Lateral branches measure about 15 cm in length and about 3            to 4 mm in diameter. Internode length measures about 2 to 3            cm (after treatment with growth retardant). About 6 buds per            lateral branch and about 6 to 8 flowers per lateral branch.        -   Stems.—Stems are strong in strength, quadrangular in shape,            with an upright aspect, with glandular hairs pubescence and            glutinous, green in color, RHS 137B, and have mint-like            scent.        -   Foliage description.—Leaves opposite, single, elliptic in            shape, finely serrate margin, pinnate venation, winged            petioles and mint-like scent. Length: About 3 to 6 cm.            Width: About 35 mm Apex: Acuminate to Acute. Base: Connate.            Texture: Rough, buckled, with glandular hairs on underside            and glutinous. Color: Young foliage: (upper side and under            side): Green, RHS 137C. Mature foliage: (upper side and            under side): Green, RHS 137B. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Venation color: (upper side): Green, RHS 137B; (under side):            Green, RHS 137A. Petiole length: Up to 4 cm. Petiole            diameter: 2 to 3 mm. Petiole color: Green, RHS 137B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Bilabiate flowers in tight,            terminal spikes.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous in tropical regions,            such as native land Brazil, and as produced cultivar, spring            and summer. In colder climates season, can be extended by            greenhouse production with high temperatures.        -   Time to flower (after potting).—About 11 weeks.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About 2 to 3 weeks. However,            longevity of individual flowers is highly dependent on            temperature and light conditions. Flowers persistent, petals            folding and withering slowly to greenish-white color, RHS            157C.        -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—Not tested.        -   Self-cleaning.—Yes.        -   Quantity of buds and flowers per plant.—About 120 to 140.        -   Rate of flower opening.—About 1 every other day per stem.        -   Fragrance.—Mint.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7 cm Height: About 9 cm.        -   Buds.—Lanceolate shape, measures about 20 mm in length            (before anthesis) and about 5 mm in diameter, color: green,            RHS 143D.        -   Flowers.—Shape is hypercrateriform, bilabiate corolla, with            basal tube. Aspect upright to outward. Lips cordate to            reniform; rounded tips and fused base. Entire margin; lower            anterior lip slightly lobed. Corolla lobes about 35 mm in            diameter, range 30 to 40 mm; about 40 mm in height, range 35            to 45 mm; tube length about 38 mm. Texture is silky,            pappilose. Color when opening: (upper side): corolla lips            violet, RHS N88A, and tube and throat, light gray            (green-white), RHS 157C; (under side): corolla lips violet,            RHS N88C. Color fully opened: (upper side): corolla lips            violet, RHS N88B and throat with white spot, RHS 155A;            (under side): corolla lips violet, RHS N88A. Color fades to            light gray (green-white) RHS 157C.        -   Calyx.—Imbricate, 5 sepals, glabrous, length about 12 to 13            mm, diameter about 5 mm.        -   Sepals.—Lanceolate in shape, acute tip and fused base;            dorsal sepal ovate. Glabrous and glandular. Entire margin.            Length about 12 to 13 mm; diameter about 2 mm. Color when            opening: (upper side): green, RHS 137D; (under side): green,            RHS 137C. Color fully opened: (upper side): green, RHS 137C;            (under side): green, RHS 137B.        -   Peduncles.—Length measuring about 3 to 4 cm, diameter            measuring about 3 to 4 mm, angle about 10°, moderately            strong in strength, color: green, RHS 137B.        -   Pedicel.—Length measuring from 10 to 15 cm, diameter            measuring about 2 to 3 mm, angle about 40° to 60°, strong in            strength, color: green, RHS 137C.-   Reproductive organs:-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamen.—4, didynamous, included.        -   Anthers.—Double reniform, connate, measuring about 1 to 2            mm, not protruding, with filaments measuring about 20 to 22            mm, white color, RHS 155D.        -   Pollen.—Average amount (2 sterile and 2 fertile anthers),            color: white, RHS 155B.-   Gynoecium:    -   -   Pistil.—One, 25 to 30 mm in length.        -   Stigma.—Bilobed in shape, color: white, RHS 155B.        -   Style.—Length: about 20 mm, color: white, RHS 155B.        -   Ovary.—Light green, RHS 137D.-   Seed: Many reticulate, caruncled seeds measuring about 0.6 in length    and 0.3 mm in diameter, and with brown color, RHS 200B.-   Fruit: None observed.-   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Otacanthus cultivar have    exhibited good tolerance to draught, rain and wind. Low temperature    tolerance to −1° C. and high temperature tolerance to +40° C.-   Pest/disease resistance/susceptibility: No particular diseases or    pests observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Otacanthus plant named ‘Calanda’, asillustrated and described herein.